G'day everyone! I posted this in another forum but I'd love to hear what your opinions on my upcoming exchange.

Recently returned from my trip in Thailand which has sparked a new found passion for travel. I've just been offered the opportunity for a half-year exchange with a university in either Belgium (Ghent) or the Netherlands (Utrecht). I'm pretty intent on going but I can't decide for the life of me which one to actually goto. Quality of the universities and language proficiencies aside, which country would you prefer to live and study in for 5 months and why?

Thanks a lot, chaps. Any first-hand opinions about either country or any experiences you lot have in general with travelling/studying abroad would be fantastic.

I haven't been to either of those towns but I have heard that Utrecht is a very international town with good universities. Anyways, the Benelux countries are small and you can take the train to visit the neighboring Benelux countries when you are there.

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I haven't heard any news about Ghent, but the University in Utrecht is known to be one of the leading ones. Besides, only half an hour by train to Amsterdam!

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utrecht, no question. how wants to live in belgium?

聖人不仁

who the hell wants to live in utrecht. forget the netherlands. go east young man go east.

Ah, thank you all for your replies

I've heard a lot of good things about Utrecht University. I was just curious as to what the quality of life is like in the Netherlands. I'm a small-town boy, you see - never lived in a city with more than 1 million people.

Unfortunately, my only options for the exchange were Belgium (Ghent), the Netherlands (Utrecht), Norway (Oslo), Denmark (Copenhagen) or Sweden (Stockholm, Uppsala or Lund). I thought I'd go for Belgium or the Netherlands because the thought of having to spend a winter in Scandanavia makes me want to disembowel myself. It's bad enough over here. That and because I'm currently learning German (with the additional benefit of my sister being fluent in German) which would probably be more helpful in Central Europe than in Northen Europe. Thus, much as I would like to, I'm not going to be able to go to Eastern Europe either. My ultimate preference would be to study in Germany but alas... no such luck.

I've never been to Belgium or the Netherlands before but sometimes it's the more random smaller countries that end up being really cool. So, I take it that the consensus for extra-curriculur fun is Utrecht?

norway all the way. friendliest and most down to earth scandinavians around.

if not norway, then finland.

shame about not being able to head east though. youre missing out.

I can't say I've heard much of anything about Norway, have you travelled there before? (And how cold is it? ) And are there any problems with regard to the language barrier?

Well, my first semester finishes in late June and the semesters in Europe begin in early-mid September so I'll be taking about 1.5-2 months to travel across Europe before I actually begin studying at my chosen institution. It's really just a good way to save on airfares and accomodation. In the first month, I'll probably be travelling around France, Germany and Central Europe (I'm saving Italy for another trip). However I'll probably head out to Eastern Europe after that. Anywhere in particular that you think would be worthwhile checking out while I'm over there? I'm completely ignorant about Europe apart from what I've read on wikipedia and Lonely Planet.

Norwegian women can be blonde, beautiful, and some of the easiest women to sleep with if you happen to be at the right party at the right time. Highly recommend Norway. I don't recommend Sweden though.

Hi, dude.

I think scandinavia is a good choice for you, when you want to have some good time during your exchange period. Personally, I had been studying in Belgium and the netherlands before...I only thing I can assure you is this:

These two countries are "shitholes" for asian men!!!!

Local girls (over there) are only looking for some "quick fuck" with foreign students. But, they only like to this kind of stuff with Black men or Arab men. Asian guys will never have any chances there..... unless you were born there and able to speak Dutch.....So I guess you can forget about scoring some pussies there......

So if I was you, I will definitely not choose Belgium and the netherlands....I believe scandinavia is a good choice for you....

Currently, I am doing my master's degree in Sweden. To be honest, I am having good time with girls every weekend here....So if somehow, by any chance, you can come to sweden...You are always welcome to contact me....It will be my pleasure to show you around.....

Ok, man....Good Luck!!!